Hoyer Statement on the Second Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:

“Today marks the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, a law that is already delivering greater access to high quality care, stronger patient protections, and more predictable health care costs to American families and businesses – all while reducing the deficit. Today, insurance companies can no longer discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions – a protection that will extend to all Americans by 2014. They can no longer impose arbitrary caps on coverage, charge women higher premiums than men for the exact same policies, or drop people from their plans when they get sick. Medicare beneficiaries now pay less for their drugs and nothing for their preventive care, and their premiums have either held steady or outright declined.

“The Affordable Care Act shows that Democrats remain firmly committed to Medicare. This law strengthened Medicare by improving benefits, extending its solvency, and laying the foundation for reforms that will constrain costs and improve quality. Its policies are already having a significant impact on slowing the growth of Medicare spending, proving that Medicare spending can be constrained without turning the program into a voucher system that shifts significant costs onto our seniors and ends the Medicare guarantee. Unlike Republican efforts to undermine the Medicare program, the policies of the Affordable Care Act reaffirm and reinforce our commitment to the promise of health security for America’s seniors and disabled.

“Make no mistake, those who stand against the Affordable Care Act will keep fighting – but so will those of us who stand for it, remaining united in our effort to preserve and expand upon this law. We will not allow Republicans to put insurance companies back in control. Over the past two years, we’ve seen that health reform is working, and we will keep fighting to ensure that health care is affordable and accessible for all Americans.”